Most women use or have used products with retinol to achieve great looking skin because it works. I used these products for years for acne and then later for it's anti-aging properties and liked how it make my skin look.

The drawback to using retinols like Retin-A is that it makes the skin very sensitive. If I were to get my eyebrows waxed I would need to discontinue use of retinols for a few days before otherwise my skin would become so irritated it was almost raw. This fact was a bit alarming because it made me wonder what it was really doing to my skin but I didn't know what else to use to get the same results. I had never heard of any natural retinol alternative.

When I found out I was pregnant with my daughter I learned that retinols are not recommended for pregnant women because of the amount of vitamin A exposure. Overuse of vitamin A has been linked to birth defects and since retinols are a form of vitamin A they are not recommended.

Some studies done about Vitamin A show that it should not to be taken in high doses because it can cause permanent brain damage if taken orally. In addition, there are studies now that are indicating that you might not want to apply this topically because it can cause skin damage as well. Retinol is very powerful and if it is used on sensitive skin or used too often, it can begin to harm the texture of your skin, causing it to look weathered. Because it can strip the layers of the skin, those newly exposed layers are now going to be subjected to the dangers of the surrounding environment, causing it to age prematurely.

There is also some concern that applying retinol skin products will add to the vitamin A stores in your body. This might be building up this toxic vitamin in the nervous system, causing long term damage. During pregnancy these higher levels of Vitamin A might cause a higher risk of birth defects and developmental delays.

An Effective Natural Retinol Alternative

After learning all of this information I was determined to find a natural retinol alternative that would produce similar results. I came across some interesting information about rose hip seed oil and it's anti-aging properties. Rose hip seed oil is an amazing natural oil, which has only recently become recognized by the general public. The popularity is for a good reason because it is believed to be the best oil available for anti-ageing and skin rejuvenation. Numerous scientific studies have also taken place, which have yielded astounding evidence supporting the use of Rose hip Seed oil.

In 1983 the University of Santiago conducted research on 180 individuals using rose hip seed oil. The tests studied people with extensive facial scarring, acne scarring, deep wrinkles, UV damage, radiation damage, burn scars, surgical scars, premature aging, dermatitis, and other skin related problems. In these tests, rose hip seed oil regenerated the skin, reduced scars and wrinkles, prevented the advancement of wrinkles and aging, and helped skin to regain its natural color and tone.

Another well-known study in 1988 was conducted on twenty women between the ages of 25-35 with extensive premature aging to their skin. Their skin was wrinkled, and had sun spots from overexposure to the sun. After four months of applying rose hip seed oil daily, their wrinkles and sun spots had almost completely disappeared, and the skin had a fresher and healthier look. After reading about these studies I was really excited to try rosehip seed oil as a natural retinol alternative.

But, Does it work in real life?

I have been using rose hip seed oil in my own homemade skin serums as a natural retinol alternative for a couple of years and have had great results. In fact, my skin is better then ever. Rose hip seed oil has worked better then any retinol products I have ever used. My skin tone is even, all of the red marks and acne scarring has disappeared, and my skin is smoother and softer then ever. I couldn't be happier with the results.

Although you can use rosehip seed oil all on it's own, you may want to try something that includes a mixture of oils for even more skin-nourishing benefits. Combining it with other moisturizing oils creates an all in one facial oil that can be used day or night. For my own skin, I created this facial serum which I my which has completely changed the look of my own skin. If you are looking for a natural alternative to your anti-aging products, rose hip seed oil is it.